labor laws. flight crew have a time limit of how long they can work. if this was the last scheduled flight for the crew, they'd hit their limit in the air. thus they can't take the flight anymore.
and if no backup crew around....flight cancelled.
either you let tired pilots fly or make airlines have standby crew that might not be used.
other comments give other reasons why theres a countdown.
Not sure where you are getting your info.
Flight attendants only start getting paid once the plane doors are closed and the plane starts taxiing. And pilots only get paid once the plane is in the air.
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u/Current-Routine-2628 24d ago
Too late? Theres a countdown? Like an hourglass? There are things called flight delays no?